Apparatus and method for fastening a security cover onto a display case

Abstract

An apparatus for securing a free edge of a security cover relative to a free edge of a finery case containing jewelry, precious metals and the like. The apparatus includes an elongate coupling member having first and second open channels formed therein. The free edge of the security cover is fastened within the first open channel. An elongate locking channel includes an elongate coupling edge and a J-shaped cross section, with the coupling edge fastened within the second open channel of the coupling member. The second open channel of the coupling member and the coupling edge of the locking channel include correspondingly-shaped cross sections having corners to enable the coupling edge to interlock within the coupling member. The locking channel is configured and dimensioned to interlock around the free edge of the finery case when the cover is placed against a sidewall of the case and further secured relative to the case, to thereby secure the free edge of the cover relative to the free edge of the case. The cover is preferably made of nontransparent, bullet-proof ABS plastic sheets which are hinged together.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An apparatus for securing a free edge of a security cover relative to a free edge of a finery case, wherein the security cover is configured for placement against a sidewall of the case and for being further secured relative to the case independent of the apparatus, said apparatus comprising: an elongate coupling means having first and second open channels formed therein for receiving the free edge of the security cover into the first channel thereof;   first fastening means for fastening the free edge of the security cover into the first open channel of the coupling means;   an elongate locking channel having an elongate coupling edge and an angled cross section, said coupling edge being configured and dimensioned to slide into the second open channel of the coupling means; and   second fastening means for fastening the coupling edge of the locking channel into the second open channel of the coupling means;   wherein the locking channel includes at least one slot formed therein, said second fastening means comprising a portion of the coupling means residing adjacent the slot when the locking channel resides within the second open channel of the coupling means, said portion of the coupling means being configured to be liquified and resolidified so as to flow within the slot and resolidify therein to thereby inhibit the locking channel from sliding out of the coupling means.   
     
     
       2. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the second open channel of the coupling means and the coupling edge of the locking channel include correspondingly-shaped cross sections having corners to enable said coupling edge to interlock within the coupling means. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein the respective cross sections of the second open channel and the coupling edge are substantially uniform along their lengths to enable said coupling edge to interlock with the coupling means along substantially an entire length of said coupling edge. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the locking channel comprises an aluminum extrudate and wherein the coupling means comprises an ABS plastic extrudate, the locking channel having at least one slot formed therein and portions of the coupling means defining opposing sides of the second open channel being ultrasonically welded together through said at least one slot to thereby inhibit the locking channel from sliding out of the coupling means. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the second open channel of the coupling means includes opposing ends, at least one of said opposing ends comprising an end opening, to thereby enable the locking channel to slide into said second open channel through said opening. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the angled cross section of the elongate locking channel comprises a J-shaped cross section. 
     
     
       7. A protective cover for finery cases containing jewelry, precious metals or other finery, wherein said finery cases include a free edge and at least two adjacent walls forming at least one edge corner, said protective cover comprising: a cover means including at least first and second sidewalls, each sidewall being hingedly attached to an adjacent sidewall, said first and second sidewalls respectively comprising first and second opposing free edges of the cover means, for placing onto a finery case in a seated position such that said cover means hingedly extends around the at least one edge corner of the finery case to thereby cover with said sidewalls the at least two adjacent walls of said finery case forming said at least one edge corner, respectively, so as to inhibit unauthorized entry into the finery case;   securing means for releasably securing the first sidewall of the cover means relative to the finery case when said cover means resides in said seated position;   an elongate coupling member having first and second open channels formed therein, said first channel being configured and dimensioned to receive the second free edge of the cover means thereinto;   first fastening means for fastening the second free edge of the cover means into the first open channel of the coupling member;   an elongate locking channel having an elongate coupling edge configured and dimensioned to slide into the second open channel of the coupling member; and   second fastening means for fastening the coupling edge of the locking channel into the second open channel of the coupling member;   wherein the locking channel includes means for interlockably engaging with the free edge of the finery case when the cover means resides in said seated position to thereby secure the second free edge of the cover means relative to the free edge of the case.   
     
     
       8. The protective cover as defined in claim 7, wherein the sidewalls of the cover means are hingedly attached together with a hinge member comprising first and second hinge arms pivotally disposed about a hinge pin, said hinge pin including first and second severed opposing end portions such that said hinge pin comprises at least a three-piece segmented member, such that grasping and removal of an end of the hinge pin results in removal of one of the severed end portions while the rest of the hinge pin remains lodged within the hinge arms to thereby inhibit disassembly of said hinge member. 
     
     
       9. The protective cover as defined in claim 7 further comprising: an elongate hinge member having first and second pivotally-connected hinge arms, wherein adjacent sidewalls of the cover means include adjacent edges hingedly attached together by said hinge member;   second and third elongate coupling members, wherein said hinge arms are respectively intercoupled with the adjacent edges by said second and third elongate coupling members, said coupling members each having first and second open channels formed therein, the first open channels being configured and dimensioned to respectively receive the adjacent edges of the sidewalls thereinto, and the second open channels being configured and dimensioned to respectively receive the first and second hinge arms thereinto; and   hinge attachment means for attaching the first and second hinge arms within the second open channels of the second and third coupling members, respectively, and for attaching the adjacent edges of the first and second sidewalls within the first open channels of said second and third coupling members, respectively.   
     
     
       10. The protective cover as defined in claim 9, wherein the second open channels of the second and third coupling members and the hinge arms of the hinge member include correspondingly-shaped cross sections having corners to enable said hinge arms to respectively interlock within the second and third coupling members. 
     
     
       11. The protective cover as defined in claim 7, wherein at least one of the sidewalls of the cover means includes at least one strand of cut-resistant wire embedded therein to thereby inhibit cutting of said sidewall. 
     
     
       12. The protective cover as defined in claim 7, wherein the first sidewall of the cover means includes an aperture formed therein, the securing means further comprising: a locking projection attached to one of the walls of the finery case and extending outwardly therefrom, said locking projection being positioned and dimensioned to pass through the aperture of the first sidewall when said cover means resides in said seated position, said locking projection further including an opening configured and dimensioned for receiving a locking means therethrough;   a locking means configured to extend through the opening of the locking projection for removably attaching to said locking projection such that said locking projection and said locking means are cooperatively larger in at least one dimension than the aperture of the first sidewall to thereby secure said first sidewall relative to the finery case; and   covering means for covering portions of said projection residing between the opening and the finery case sufficiently to inhibit a cutting member from contacting any of said portions, said covering means comprising, at least in part, the first sidewall of the cover means.   
     
     
       13. The protective cover as defined in claim 12, wherein the first sidewall of the cover means includes adjacent sidewall segments having abutting edges, said first sidewall further including a joining plate overlapping said abutting edges and being secured thereto to form a joint in the first sidewall, wherein the aperture of the first sidewall extends through said joining plate and one of said sidewall segments such that the covering means comprises, at least in part, said joining plate and said one of said sidewall segments. 
     
     
       14. The protective cover as defined in claim 12, wherein the covering means further comprises a covering ring insertable onto the locking projection so as to circumscribe said projection between the opening and the first sidewall of the cover means. 
     
     
       15. The protective cover as defined in claim 7, wherein the cover means is nontransparent. 
     
     
       16. The protective cover as defined in claim 7, wherein the angled cross section of the elongate locking channel comprises a J-shaped cross section which is configured and dimensioned to interlock around the free edge of the finery case. 
     
     
       17. The protective cover as defined in claim 7, wherein the second open channel of the coupling member and the coupling edge of the locking channel include correspondingly-shaped cross sections having corners to enable said coupling edge to interlock within the coupling member. 
     
     
       18. The protective cover as defined in claim 17, wherein the respective cross sections of the second open channel and the coupling edge are substantially uniform along their lengths to enable said coupling edge to interlock with the coupling member along substantially an entire length of said coupling edge. 
     
     
       19. The protective cover as defined in claim 7, wherein the locking channel includes at least one slot formed therein, said second fastening means comprising a portion of the coupling member residing adjacent the slot when the locking channel resides within the second open channel of the coupling member, said portion of the coupling member being configured to be liquified and resolidified so as to flow within the slot and resolidify therein to thereby inhibit the locking channel from sliding out of the coupling member. 
     
     
       20. A method for securing a free edge of a security cover relative to a free edge of a finery case, wherein the security cover is configured for placement against a sidewall of the case and for being further secured relative to the case, said method comprising the steps of: (a) forming an elongate coupling member having first and second open channels formed therein, said first channel being configured and dimensioned to receive the free edge of the security cover thereinto;   (b) fastening the free edge of the security cover into the first open channel of the coupling member;   (c) forming an elongate locking channel having an elongate coupling edge and an angled cross section, said coupling edge being configured and dimensioned to slide into the second open channel of the coupling member;   (d) fastening the coupling edge of the locking channel into the second open channel of the coupling member; and   (e) interlockably engaging the locking channel with the free edge of the finery case when the cover is placed against the sidewall and further secured relative to the case to thereby secure the free edge of the cover relative to the free edge of the case.